If you’ve ever found yourself at a career fair, you know they can be overwhelming, regardless of which side of the table you’re standing on. As an employer, you’re faced with an endless stream of faces and resumes, all the while trying to pick out potential candidates from the masses. This process is enough to turn some employers away from career fairs entirely and stick to word-of-mouth or online recruiting, but there are some real benefits to sticking it out at a job fair. 

The first is that it gets your brand in front of people. Even if you do not find your next all-star employee, you are representing your company as an established, stable place to work.
The second benefit to job fairs is a more selfish one. You know that pushy job-seeker who shoved their resume in your face and made no effort to connect with you? You saw how ineffective that was at impressing you, so if you ever find yourself on the job hunt again, you will know what type of behavior at job fairs makes a good impression on employers. 

Career fairs may not be your favorite way to spend a day, but appreciate what they can do for you and your business!

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been in the news recently for her policy that all Yahoo employees must work in the office instead of having the option to work from home. This decision has been controversial, bringing  up a considerable amount of conversation regarding working remotely. 

What side are you on in the work from home debate? Do you feel that it gives your employees the opportunity to work in whichever environment they are more productive, or do you believe that nothing can replace the interaction of an office setting? 

There are pros and cons to each. Working remotely gives some employees the opportunity to earn a living when they may otherwise have had to stay home due to family or medical obligations. On the other hand, coordinating schedules can be difficult if everyone is not in the office at the same time. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it is a hot topic right now and one worth discussing!

The old adage says that actions speak louder than words. This is especially true in the work place. We can be polite in emails and professional in our conversations, but it is also important to monitor our nonverbal cues. Regulating this can be very difficult because we often don’t even notice when it’s happening! 

Try to run your own mini-experiment. Do you find yourself grimacing whenever a particular employee comes in, or rolling your eyes when talking to disgruntled customers? Notice when this happens, and intentionally work to change your behavior the next time. It’s impossible to remove all emotion from the workplace – and you don’t want to -  but controlling both verbal and nonverbal communication can help quell negative undercurrents and lead to a happier, more productive workplace.